ASEF Creative Networks - First Edition (2013-14)

ASEF Creative Networks encourages collaborations among networks in order to reinforce the dialogue between cultural professionals from Asia and Europe. Through this programme, ASEF seeks to strengthen its role as a connector between cultural networks of the two regions over the past 15 years. The programme draws from the positive experiences gained through the successful work of the Creative Encounters: Cultural Partnerships Between Asia and Europe and will be based on a similar selection and funding model.

Eligible candidates for this programme include representatives of existing and/or emerging cultural/artistic networks, at national, regional, sub-regional or bi-regional levels. Proposals will be selected according to their relevance in the framework of ASEF’s mission, the financial commitment of involved partners, and ability to raise ASEF’s visibility within the cultural sector. The implementation of new bi-regional networks and the expansion of Asian/European networks to the other region will be particularly encouraged. Selected partners will receive partial financial contributions from ASEF.

ASEF intends to develop ASEF Creative Networks as a long-term programme to promote sustainable connections among the cultural communities of Asia and Europe, and by notably by supporting collaborative projects and activities.

Project Updates

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) through its programme ASEF Creative Networks supported the 2nd Conference of the Asia Pacific Network for Cultural Education & Research (ANCER):New Voices, Current Perspectives: Arts Management, Policy and Development in Asiaat LaSalle College of the Arts from 13-15 November 2014 in Singapore.

The ANCER network aims to stimulate inquiry and research so as to better understand arts management and cultural policy in the region. This 2nd conference discussed the larger cultural identity frameworks connected with the Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia region and their challenges, visions, strategies and decision. Keynote speakers of this conference were Mr Anmol Vellani, founder and former Executive Director of the India Foundation for the Arts and Dr Farish Noor, Associate Professor and Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Ms Anupama Sekhar, Acting Director of ASEF’s Culture Department, presented the WorldCP-International Database of Cultural Policies project.

ASEF also supported a special session on Asia-Europe Cultural Dialogue in partnership the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres (ENCATC) on 15 November 2014. The session was moderated by Mr Gerald Lidstone, Director of the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ICCE) and Deputy Head of the Drama Department, and Dr Carla Figuera, Director MA Cultural Policy, Relations and Diplomacy, Director MA Cultural Policy and Tourism, both from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Among other speakers Dr Kiwon Hong, the Regional Editor of the Korean chapter of the ASEF project WorldCP-Asia, participated in the panel discussion on Cultural Policy in East Asia.

The Conference included presentations from young cultural policy researchers from the region selected by a team of experts in cultural policy including ASEF.

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) through its programme ASEF Creative Networks is supporting the 22nd ENCATC Annual Conference “New Challenges for the Arts and Culture: Is it just about money?” in Brno, Czech Republic from 17-19 September 2014.

This major international event will bring together academics, researchers, cultural managers, policy makers, students, and artists to discuss and explore new challenges facing the arts. The themes of the conference will focus on the social, aesthetic and economic aspects of arts management in the public and private sectors and question “Is it all just about money?” This conference is meant to advance reflection and inspire innovative thinking about all aspects of the arts that impact our society and particularly the social, aesthetic and economic ones.

Ms Anupama Sekhar, Acting Director of ASEF Culture Department, will present ASEF culture360 in the open session: Transfer of Knowledge, Information and Methodology on 19 September and the WorldCP-International Database of Cultural Policies project in the research session. She will also participate in the Seminar N°1: Training at the urban cultural project level: Training needs and future perspectives

Organised by the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centers (ENCATC) in partnership with the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Brno, this major international event will help to advance reflection and inspire innovative thinking about the social, aesthetic and economic impact of the arts on society.

The conference will include the presentation of the 11th Cultural Policy Research Award to young researchers. In 2014, the award will go beyond its initial European focus and will be open to young PhD candidates from Asia as well. ASEF is part of the Steering Committee in charge of selecting the awardees.

This conference is supported through the ASEF Creative Networks programme and aims to forge closer connections between two cultural networks, ENCATC and the Asia Pacific Network for Cultural Education and Research (ANCER).

ENCATC announces a call for abstracts from academics, researchers, trainers and cultural professionals for papers to be presented at the 5th Annual ENCATC Research Session in Brno, Czech Republic, as part of the Annual Conference.

This is an excellent opportunity for other academics, researchers, arts and cultural operators, students, policy makers, and artists to get the latest research developments, gain new insights and perspectives in the field of cultural management and cultural policy, and dialogue with leading experts in their field.

The project intends to create a network of artist residencies whose aim is to promote cultural exchange between these three regions. The initial gathering focused on developing approaches to collecting data about artist residencies that will be used in developing a comprehensive map of this vast region. In addition, the partners have discussed on the creation of self- assessment tools for the artist residency field in Asia, Australia and Europe.

The AAECR net will soon disseminate the report of this first meeting and will announce the next steps towards the continuation of the discussions initiated in Melbourne.

As part of the Network As Learning Experience ENCATC organised two events in April and in May 2014.

Encatc in partnership with the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts has organised the Encatc International Study Tour 2014 under the theme “Understanding Cultural Cooperation between China and Europe” in Shanghai on 9-12 April 2014. Ms GiannaLia Cogliandro, ENCATC Secretary General gave a lecture on ‘Introduction to Arts Education in China and Shanghai’ at Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts.

Encatc also organised ENCATC Academy "Culture in External Relations: Focus on Asia", an intensive 2‐day learning programme on the field of culture in external relations held in Brussels from 8-9 May 2014. The Academy was a joint initiative of ENCATC and Goldsmiths, University of London in partnership with the Asia-Europe Foundation. It aim was to deliver an intense learning opportunity to participants to further develop their knowledge and expertise in this field and prepare them to deal with unexpected challenges in cultural relations in Asia. This peer learning programme offered academics, researchers, practitioners and key decision makers an ideal environment to expand their personal and professional networks and establish future project partnerships.

Initiated by ENCATC, the events are supported by the programme ASEF Creative Networks an initiative of the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) that encourages collaborations which can reinforce bi-regional networking in the cultural field. The “Networks as learning experience” project was selected for support from over 50 proposals submitted through a competitive call in 2013.

Three projects (from a pool of 54 proposals) have been selected for support in 2014 through the first edition of ASEF Creative Networks:

1) The Asia-Europe Network of Urban Heritage for Sustainable Creative Economies will be established as a cross-disciplinary network of experts on cultural heritage in Asia and Europe. This network will facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building with a focus on creative economies for the sustainable management of historic environments. Founding members include Europa Nostra, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) and the Yangon Heritage Trust.

2) Network as Learning Experience by The European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centers (ENCATC), the Asia Pacific Network for Education and Research (ANCER) and the Hong Kong Institute of Education will organise a series of events – in China, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Slovakia and the United Kingdom - aimed at capacity building for cultural managers and researchers.

3) The Asia-Europe Creative Residency Network will be established as a sub-network of Res Artis, the largest existing network of artist residency programmes, to specifically promote more cultural exchange between Asia and Europe. The first meeting of the new network will take place in Melbourne, Australia. Project partners include the Res Artis Foundation, the Japan Foundation Information Center, Asialink (Australia) and the National Association for the Visual Arts (Australia).

ASEF participated in the 6th World Summit on Arts and Culture, which took place from 13-16 January 2014 in Santiago, Chile. The valuable role of ASEF in nurturing and supporting cultural networks in Asia and Europe was presented by Ms Anupama SEKHAR, ASEF’s Acting Director Culture Department in the session, New Systems/New Models: The Importance of Networks on 15 January 2014.

Cultural networks are emerging as an increasingly significant channel of international cooperation in the cultural field. As part of its on-going efforts to promote sustainable connections between Asia and Europe, ASEF encourages the establishment and development of professional networks in the field of arts and culture. A successful example was the establishment of the Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) in 2000, now consisting of 97 members across 38 ASEM countries. In 2013, ASEF Creative Networks was launched to support the development of long-term activities among relevant cultural networks from Asia and Europe. This initiative also encourages the establishment of new bi-regional networks.

The Summit gathered over 400 government officials and cultural professionals to discuss new models for cultural development. It was co-organised by ASEF’s long-term partner, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).

Cultural networks are emerging as an increasingly significant channel of international collaboration in arts and culture. Recognising the potential of this growing phenomenon to nurture sustainable professional linkages between Asia and Europe, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) launched the ASEF Creative Networks initiative in 2013. This initiative encourages the establishment of new networks linking Asia and Europe as well as the development of sustainable projects by existing bi-regional networks. Selection is through a competitive open call for proposals.

3 projects from a pool of 54 proposals have been selected for support in 2014 through the first edition of ASEF Creative Networks. These projects are briefly described below:

1) The Asia-Europe Network of Urban Heritage for Sustainable Creative Economies will be established as a cross-disciplinary network of experts on cultural heritage in Asia and Europe. This network will facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building with a focus on creative economies for the sustainable management of historic environments. Founding members include Europa Nostra, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) and the Yangon Heritage Trust.

2) The European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centers (ENCATC), the Asia Pacific Network for Education and Research (ANCER) and the Hong Kong Institute of Education will organise a series of events – in China, the Czech Republic, Singapore and Slovakia - aimed at capacity building for cultural managers and researchers.

3) The Asia-Europe Creative Residency Network will be established as a sub-network of Res Artis, the largest existing network of artists’ residency programmes, to specifically promote more cultural exchange between Asia and Europe. The first meeting of the new network will take place in Melbourne, Australia. Project partners include the Res Artis Foundation, the Japan Foundation Information Center, Asialink (Australia) and the National Association for the Visual Arts (Australia).

4 network proposals have been shortlisted from 54 submissions for the 1st edition of the ASEF Creative Networks project initiative by the Asia-Europe Foundation. (see pdf document for the list of 4 shortlisted projects)

The shortlisted applicants are requested to submit a detailed proposal on or before Friday, 1 November 2013. Successful applicants will be notified by 1 December 2013.

ASEF has launched an open call for proposals through ‘ASEF Creative Networks’,a new initiative that recognises cultural networks as an important mechanism for bi-regional collaboration and cooperation in the fields of arts and culture.

Through this new programme, ASEF seeks to strengthen its long-standing role as a connector of cultural networks in Asia and Europe for over 16 years.

ASEFwelcomes proposals from Asian and European cultural networks for activities such as capacity building workshops, mapping of good practices, expansion of Asian and European networks to the other region, among others. The proposed projects must take place between 1 January 2014 and 30 November 2014.

Multilateral proposals that engage as many partners and participants as possible from the 49 member countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and which favour effective, long-term cooperation are particularly encouraged. The submission deadline is 15 August 2013.

‘ASEF Creative Networks’ seeks to translate into action the call of ASEM Culture Ministers to promote “further enhanced networking among professionals in the cultural field through existing professional networks.”

ASEF announces the launch of its 1st open call for proposals through ‘ASEF Creative Networks’,a new initiative that recognises cultural networks as an important mechanism to encourage bi-regional collaborations and reinforce cooperation in the cultural field.

Through this new grant scheme, ASEF seeks to strengthen its role as a connector between cultural networks in Asia and Europe during the past 16 years.

ASEFwelcomes proposals from Asian and European cultural networks for activities such as capacity building workshops, mapping of good practices, expansion of Asian or European networks to the other region, among others. They shall take place between 1 January 2014 and 30 November 2014.

Multilateral proposals that engage as many partners and participants as possible from the 49 ASEM member countries and which favour effective, long-term cooperation are particularly encouraged.